With the ever expanding market and cost for aged tins I think it is important to still comment on them. I smoked the McClelland Celebrated Sovereign some time ago and it was good, but there was no “wow” factor. Smoking the K&K made CS from 1991, my first reaction is WOW! Due to the age, the “woosh” sound came from opening the tin. There are some sugar crystals on the Virginia portion of the blend now. It is smooth, very smooth. It is a little sweet and a little spicy too. CS is balanced and has an incense like flavor coming from the Syrian Latakia. The thin ribbons pack with ease too. I am going to buck the tide a little bit and say that time has only served to enhance CS and to my surprise, the Latakia, which isn’t in great proportion, has managed to stand the test of time quite well. The K&K version of CS seldom shows up for sale, but if it does, it is worth a few extra bucks.

I am sampling a tin that is manufactured by Robert McConnell (Kohlhase, Kopp & Co). The tobacco had minimum humidity (which I prefer)and presented a range going from light to dark brown, as well as black ribbons. The mixture is dominated by the VAs, ORs and the Black CA. Consequent with the tin aroma, I cannot say there is a lot of Latakia but it is not detrimental, overall, to the quality and pleasant richness of CS. If there is, it must be Syrian because it does not come through. Past the first third, the OR dominate, bringing a spicier side to the smoke that will last throughout, attenuating the sweeter side brought on by the VAs and Black CA. There is a point of smokiness emerging on occasion, which confirms the Latakia as a condiment. I have not tried the McClelland remake but this one is worthy to try. I do not like Latakia dominating and CS is certainly not the case. I tend to compare CS to Red Rapparee, as they have similar basic components, but find CS to be much better in terms of taste, richness, strenght and burning qualities. This is to me the ideal english mixture companion when I run out of Black House.

From 2005: I enjoy this blend fragrant with oriental and Syrian latakia tobaccos. As other reviewers noted, this is a "creative" english blend, as are the Frog Morton blends. Like FMAP, the latakia isn't center stage but a player that lends its transparent color. Wonderful stuff, this.

1/09: Note to self: thanks for buying up the last tins fro dealers for the cellar. Four years later, a tin retrieved and popped open this week has been the joy of the new year. This stuff aged wonderfully, becoming richer, more complex and aromatic in the oriental sense. If this combination of tobaccos re-emerge somehow, stock up.

For starters, let me just say that I only smoke Latakia laden blends as a rare change of pace. Most do not rock my world, but this one sure did!

Celebrated Sovereign is one fine hodge-podge of British tobacco. Each element complimenting the blend. Not for the weak hearted though, this blend packs as much wallop as ole' Henry Cooper (who once knocked down Muhammed Ali).

If you want a different sort of Latakia blend that is more complex than the usual, put on your track shoes and head for your nearest tobacconist. By the way, I smoked my tin of this bloody good stuff in a EXEXEL Barling Quaint that I reserve for only Latakia blends. The experience was just a tad short of religous!

A member of a French pipe smoking forum exchanged my HH mature Virginia with this one. And I am so happy we did this. This mixture sets itself apart from the other few English/balkan/Latakia mixtures I tasted because it contains some black cavendish and carolina tobacco. There is certainly the spice of Latakia (I am not sure it is Syrian though) and the Orientals, it also has a very highly sweet virginia and I suppose the cavendish and carolina mellow the taste, which makes it softer than most other blends of the same family.

Blast from the past #2 - Found a single tin dated 1990 online, the McConnell/K&K version. I know I smoked one tin in the early 1990's but wasn't impressed. It seemed like an also-ran in a crowded field at the time. Today of course, Syrian latakia is a luxury. At any rate, this was a lighter colored ribbon with a huge oriental tin aroma. HUGE! Smelled like Compton's #21... very enticing.

The latakia in this one has virtually disappeared and consequently this became a very oriental forward blend riding a backbone of sweet and spicy Virginias. A little extra sweetness from the Cavendish but I got the impression that had been quieted somewhat as well. I really don't have much of a memory of this one from "back in the day" but 24 years of age turned this one into a delicious, delightful oriental blend with a hint of sourness, a hint of perfume and a massive amount of depth. It was soft but full, in the best Scottish tradition. I didn't miss the latakia at all. Nuance upon subtlety, the complexity I often crave is here. This is simply an excellent blend and I'm going to search for more. Meantime, I believe I'll sample the McClelland version as well. Very highly recommended and cellar-able!

Ten year mark(520100) and I popped a tin Saturday My tastes have changed or my memory. I found that it aged well and had the right moisture content, however the latakia has really mellowed out. The blend has more Turkish and Dubec flavor than before. The virginia is still there just lighter as well as the entire blend. I did buy a new can last month ( won't wait 10 yrs to try)and will see how much it has changed during aging, this and 965 we're my standbys so I hope the new one is heavier in the Latakia Dept. I'm glad to see the Ashton tobacco's back. Great treat to puff on!!!!!! No bring back Dunhill Night Cap,965 and Early Morning and I'll be happy!

Update: After finishing the tin I can say this was just great tasting. I found it smoked best in a large pipe Billiard or Pot shape pipe. The flavor really went up near the end of the bowl, where you didn't want it to end. Not as good as Margate or BS but close!

A first important note: the first, longer, part of this review is based upon the European version, made in Germany. As I'll explain, the US version (made by McClelland) is quite different... A deja-vu feeling jumped on me as soon as I opened the can: damn, this is the hated Higland Targe made by Rattray!!! Alas, it wasn't... but the appearance, smell and taste are so close that one might think of the two blends as clones. Probably this is due to the fact that both Ashton's and Rattray's blends in Europe are made by the same manufacturer? I learnt a lesson from these two tobaccos: that I should steer clear of the lighter english mixtures (sometimes called "scottish mixtures"), those crossover blends that throw everything inside: Latakia, orientals, virginia and cavendish. There's all and there's nothing, because all tastes are so subdued and drowned: I particularly suspect that the cavendish is guilty of this, adding its dull sweetness/nothingness. I really don't like cavendish... I justify its existence only for making aromatics (although I admit that I love its presence in My Mixture 965). The label claims this is a fine Latakia mixture for connoisseurs: well, give me some REAL English Mixtures (like Dunhill's or Balkan Sobranie's), because THAT is where I can feel the Latakia!!! Room note, anyway, seems to be unpleasant to many people: I guess that the Latakia makes its presence felt this way instead of in the taste... After consuming 20 grams of tobacco only... I let the remaining 80 grams rest in the tin for two months, and the tobacco didn't dry too much, but developed a nice mellow sweetness/softness and a better taste, too! After this period, the Syrian latakia gave a more perceivable smokiness, and the whole experience became more satisfying. Sure, it still tasted flat 50% of the times I smoked it, but at least it had become a decent all-day blend, especially if puffed slow and without overheating. For a description of the blend, anyway (you might care, if you like this kind of subtler stuff: and judging by the other reviews, it may be your case), take a look at my review of Rattray's Highland Targe. Celebrated Sovereign is just a tiny little bit tastier and smokier (due to the Syrian Latakia), but for the rest identical... A bad blend? Not at all, simply devoid of much appeal to me. UPDATE: A year after trying the European version, I had the fortune of smoking the US version, too. Well, I must say that I like the US one better: sure, it still is too light a blend for my taste, but it has a wonderful delicate creaminess, and the smokiness is just right. The smell in the tin is undoubtedly McClelland. Not as vinegary-ketchupy as some of their offerings, but very fruity and deeply smoky: I guess that the main difference between the European and the US version lies in the quality of the Red Virginias. Being a fan of McClelland's virginias it's no surprise that I like the US one better! Really, it could almost get half a "star" more than the European version (which, by the way, was moister than the US one by McClelland, which is weird!).

4 Ounce tin from early(?) nineties, "Blended by William Taylor" and "Made in EEC" on label.

Not bad considering that it's been sitting, unopened, in a box of other stuff from 5 relocations ago. Tin was bulging at both ends and made quite a fuss when it was opened. At first the smell was definitely more "odor" than "aroma", but with some air and fluffing out the leaf-lock, things in the olfactory department improved rapidly.

Fine ribbon cut, the individual leaves maintained their integrity quite well considering their long confinement. Short strands of gold, dark brown and almost black. Aroma became almost like that of an old Port, along with some well balanced smokiness. Pretty moist, all things considered.

Smoke was in the same genre as many similar blends, but more "Balkanesque" with the interplay of Latakia and Dubec. Virginias are both bright and deep in their flavors and aromas, and developed nicely as the bowl progressed.

Overall a bit disappointing, but my expecations may have been unreasonable. Stumbling on a long forgotten, almost 20 year old tin of tobacco while looking for an even older notebook can do that.

I bought a tin of this about two years ago, smoked several pipes full, and still can't seem to empty it. I go back to it from time to time, just to remind myself why I can't empty it. There's just too many other, better English blends in the house to put this unexciting mixture in my pipe.

The Latakia used is a smokier Syrian leaf, rather than the more common Cyprian. And the Turkish leaf is the naturally sweeter Dubec. The Red Virginia, bright Carolina and Black Cavendish make it a fairly complex blend.

But the complexity does not come through in the smoking. The various components go together alright, it tastes okay and is a reasonably enjoyable smoke, but its too simple and unremarkable to warrant ever buying it again. I have little to say about it that is bad other than, as an English blend, it is a pale third-place finisher. If I want an English blend, I'll go with something that has a bit more character.

To date, the 24 reviewers, including myself, have given it seven 4-star ratings, and thirteen 3-star ratings, while only four have given it 1- or 2-star ratings, for an average score of 3.08 stars.

I just finished a tin of this I had lost sometime in the 90's. It was just like I remember...dull as steam, with taste similar to dried out watered down standard mixture mild. Much like their kin in the regular McClelland line, if it was not one that they ripped off from Barry Levin, it has the depth of Paris Hilton and probably a similar flavor. I have always been sad when I smoked this (or Old Dog, or any of the McClelland Green tin line) that these tobaccos could not have found their way to good homes where they could be turned into great blends by Rattray's Cotton's Pease's or Astley's. So much precious Turkish wasted! Oh the humanity!

This was my second venture in what I considered - at the time, in 1997- strong, full English Mixtures.

Being a neophyte in English Blends, I wanted to try this one because I liked the aroma for an English; the Latakia was far from being overwhelming. Unfortunately, being in Canada, it was only available in bulk, like most Rattrays and McConnell blends - which is a shame, as the bulk tobaccos are either inferior, or totally different from the tin versions ( no wonder they're cheaper in price...)- where was I?

Yes, yes, the Latakia not overwhelming. Some brown, dark brown and Black leaves, loose cut, if I remember well, pretty nice aroma for an English. easy to pack, easy to lioght up, stayed well lit up, the crowd was pleased with the bakkie, so I was happy.

When I hit mid-bowl, things came out of hand. It started being a bit too much for what I could put up with at the time.

Nevertheless, this is a fantastic tobacco anyway, and I will retry ASAP, if I can get a hold of some! I am sure I would, today, absolutely appreciate it.

I'm partial to latakia blends, and am a proven sucker for a tin aroma somewhere between a BBQ pork sandwich and a hardwood campfire. Frog Morton, Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme, McClelland 5110 -- I'm there, dude. But Ashton's Celebrated Sovereign has always fallen short on that count, as its tin bouquet is significantly more understated, and has always struck me as being somewhere between mildewed leather and a Wal-Mart brand dog treat.

But boy-oh-boy, fire this tobac up in a bowl, and it has consistently wowed me with its smoking qualities: It has become one of my all-time favorites (surpassing even the fine blends named above) because it consistently draws smooth, tastes complex and spicy, and gives off voluminous amounts of delicious smoke that is nothing short of incense. Although its character changes throughout the bowl, it is always multi-dimensional and worth savoring. It burns down to a fine ash that allows me to clean my bowl with a simple inverted tap. Mmmmm, tasty.

If anyone can give me a line on where to find more of this precious blend, or identify a passable proxy, I'd be very glad for the information.

My curse continues unabated. Finding a tobacco I enjoy seems to be the kiss of death for it's existance. First Scandal, then Edgeworth Sliced, now Sovereign. Note that this review is of the now-discontinued US version produced by McClelland.

Celebrated Sovereign is a wonderful medium English blend that could easily be an all-day affair in this pipe smokers opinion. The Syrian latakia, once again, makes all the difference between a good smoke and a truly outstanding one.

Its Appearance is much darker than most lat blends, likely due to the cavendish. Sovereign packs easily and will typically light with a single match. This blend is easy to smoke an entire bowl with no relights.

Full of character from the beginning, the flavor builds nicely throughout the bowl. Sovereign exhibits no propensity to bite, even when smoked aggressively.

My first tin is five years old so your mileage may vary. Still, the dozen I ordered recently were stamped '04 so I'll see what the difference is. Most pundits indicate the first year is the crucial one in the aging of this fine blend.

One of my favorite pipes is dedicated to this and another blend. It is a sandblasted Jess Chonowitsch Pot with a bamboo shank, and the pipe loves this blend, as it is reserved- appropriately I think- for Syrian Latakia. The other blend that I smoke in it is Syrian Full Balkin.

I have over 20 tins most from 2000 and 2003 cellaring as I have come to learn that it is no longer being produced- at least not by McClelland. What a shame too, gone the way of the Three Nuns! May it rest in peace.

This easily manageable blend is simple to pace and light. Keeping it lit and tamped is a breeze, and the flavor of the Syrian Latakia is superb, backed by the sweet Black Cavendish and Virginias. There is a tremendous, but not overpowering, amount of body, and flavor to this blend- the different varieties of premium tobacco make for an excellent affair of analysis and contemplation. Or if your bag is to vegetate while walking about that would work too!

I am- for the most part- a VA smoker but when I want to reach for something with Latakia in it my hand finds Celebrated Sovereign, or Syrian Full Balkin, another Syrian combination masterfully concocted by McClelland.

Celebrated Sovereign was my first foray into a decently aged tobacco. I managed to stumble into a well hidden smoke shop in Los Angeles during a training session for my work in the area. You could tell the place catered mostly to the cigar crowd.

Steering clear of the wide bulk assortment, I checked the pipe tobacco tins to find a small collection of Peterson and Dunhills...and this. They had a ton of five year old tins from the Ashton line, dated to the year 2000. The clear plastic tin cover had darkened heavily and the tins themselves had a distinct cigar-smoke aroma. At nine dollars, I couldn't miss, so I picked up two--Celebrated Sovereign and Black Parrot. How could I pass up the opportunity to get some well aged Syrian Latakia and real Perique? It was one of those drooling impulse buys, I admit.

Compared to the other Syrian blend I smoked, Full Balkan--also by McClelland--this is by far the better tobacco. It's more rich and full, and the Syrian clearly shines through in contrast to its more subdued counterpart, Full Balkan. Full Balkan seemed to simply lack flavor, and the Latakia was rather tasteless, leading me to wonder the mystique behind the Syrian name. Although less pronounced than Cyprian, the leaf here shares the same smoky element, but there's a greater nuance in taste. It doesn't seem to rely so much on the smokiness but on the leaf itself.

There's a hefty variety of tobaccos in the blend, so the smoke doesn't get boring, although I can't say I was able to pick them all apart and distinguish one from another. If I can complain at all, it would be nice to have something a bit more heavy, but this will do fine. The trade off was well worth it.

Rich, sweet, full and complex akin to Brittish Woods. The virginia dictates the need for a very slow rate of puffing to avoid a burnt tounge. A good blend to try at least once, but just tempermental enough to not be an all day smoke candidate.

I'll be honest, I purchased this one more for the name than anything, at first. This one surprised me though, with its rich, sweet, and spicy complexity. It does remind me of Brittish Woods and FMOTT by the same blending house though.Because of its spiciness, I usually do not smoke more than two bowls in a row, otherwise my taste buds are overwhelmed for anything else for the rest of the day. Because of this virginia component, you do have to puff a little slower, otherwise you may need the elders of the church to annoint your tongue with oil and pray for you, so enjoy with restraint. My tastebuds hhave gravitated toward other blends as of late, so I don't smoke this much anymore, but it is still a good English blend to try.

This is an English blend for people who don't like English blends. What I mean is that Celebrated Sovereign presents itself as a fine Virginia blend with a nice Oriental presence that just happens to have a light added component of Latakia. The heart of this blend is sweet McClelland Virginias and Carolinas. If you air-smoke this blend (a/k/a allow air to enter your mouth around the stem on the draw), the Latakia is purely a background condiment, and the complexity of the VA/Carolina interaction is marvelous. The "dryness" (as in a dry wine, not mouth-drying)of the Dubec leaf offers a nice counterpoint, as is a feel that I could best describe as "tea" - a tasty, slight bitterness. I really can't taste the Cavendish, though I suspect it was added to cool the smoke.

If your favorite blend is Nightcap, this will certainly disappoint you. But if you are looking for a great example of a well-balanced English blend, CS is worth your time and money. I find very few English blends that I would consider "complex", but this pulls it off, while simultanously being an easy smoke. Again, I would heartily recommend "air smoking" this, keeping it just above a smoulder.

I have been smoking several blends that are referred to as "Old American Blends" which is what I mostly smoke. I found one tin of this at half price and even though I do not favor English blends could not pass up this giveaway.

It did smell a lil like McClellend upon opening the tin (that ketchup Virginia flake scent) and that brought a smile to my face. It looked darkish with "pebbles" of Virginia flake strands of cavendish? and other dark tobacco.

The actual smoking was like inhaling silk. I admit this was a very high quality of tobacco, and out did what I have been smoking by a good distance. If all things were equal I would smoke more of this but asdly it does cost quite a bit more so I will reserve for when I can fully enjoy all the wonders of this blend.

I know that Ashton tobaccos are actually McClelland made, however, If I had to choose a family of tobaccos to smoke exclusivley, it would definitely be McClelland, and I could be happy with just the Ashton blends. That said, here is my unbiased ;-) opinion of my lastest tin, Celebrated Sovereign. The tin I smoked was 4 years old, and was coincidently the first Syrian latakia belnd I think I have tried.

Texture: Although it was probably a bit moist on opening, it rattled in the tin, and in the hand it had a pebble like feel. Almost as if it had been frosted lightly.

Pack/Pipe: Due to the texture noted above, this tobacco seemed to resist conforming to the shape of the bowl, and I tended to use a strong hand when packing it, which gave me the best results. I don't know if I could pick a pipe that this performed best in. It was a very consistent tobacco, and seemed to me to be unaffected by the bowl variations of a number of different pipes.

Lighting/Burn: This was one of the more difficult tobaccos to perform a charring light to. It just did not want to fold into that flour like white-grey ash that lets you know the second match will send you to the bottom of the bowl. This blend often took three matches to get rolling well, and many times two or even three matches to finish the bowl. (Odd for me, I usually have no or one relight per bowl to finish).

1st 3rd: Tangy, smoky and sweet. This is a great "bright" english blend. As mentioned above, the tobacco does not seem to burn fully, and at first just turns into little black crunchy granules instead of gray or white ash. This made judging the proper time and firmness of tamping a bit difficult, which in turn probably caused the additional relights.

2nd 3rd: A bit of the brightness rolls off here, and I am left with a smoky sweetness, and little to no heat. The burn was usually a bit more consistent here.

Final 3rd: More of the same smokiness, and still fairly sweet. My tongue was usually shot by this time. I don't mean tongue burn, it is just that this tobacco left my tongue with the same feeling you got as a kid when you ate too much candy. (Like it has a coating on it). I imagine it is either the Syrian Latakia, or some type of leaf treatment.

Notes: Although my review was not an ovation, I was pleased with this blend, and have four more tins with quite a bit if age on them saved for the future. If you like McClelland VA's, and you are interested in trying Syrian Latakia, I highly recommend that you give this one a try.

I had a friend of mine give me a tin of this and now im hooked! This is avery good blend. I don't want to call it a straight english blend in that it has a little bit sweeter component than a typical english blend. The flavor of this blend is extrordinary and is probably one of my all time favorites that has come from under the umbrella of the mcclelland family. The smoke is cool, smooth, round, oppulant and makes me salivate when I think of it. There is some complexity in this blend as well. The flavors range from smokey and sweet to lightly earthy and slightly nutty. This is a forgiving smoke in that a fast probably wont get tongue bite, however I find that the complexity of this blend comes out when smoked slowly. When puffed faster it becomes somewhat monochromatic but the flavor is still good. Highly recomended!

I have now smoked nearly half a tin of this blend and have enjoyed every bowl equally. The aroma upon opening the tin is very unusual, in my opinion. It has a very sweet smell to it that tends to mellow out after being open for a week or so. The tobacco is lighter in color than most english blend that I tend to smoke regularly, with the occasional piece of broken flake. The taste resembles Frog Morton slightly but to me is a not quite as rich as the Frog (probably due to the lack of the strange casing which compliments the Frog so nicely). This tobacco is a tad more bity than many english tobaccos and does tickle my tongue quite a bit. It has the qualities of an excellent smoke; smokes cool, dry, and all the way to the bottom with minimal relights (generally only one if any) I find the room aroma to be very comforting and pleasant, though non smokers tend to feel the opposite. I highly recommend this tobacco, I feel it is an excellent smoke. However, I tend to prefer my english tobaccos a bit more stout than this one, and while I will enjoy finishing the rest of my tin, I probably will not buy more.

UPDATE: I have raised my recommendation slightly on this one. The tin has been finished and I found myself enjoying each bowl more than the last. This will probably not be a regular smoke for me, however, I will definitly be purchasing more to enjoy down the road. Recommended.

For many years, Celebrated Sovereign was my go-to English blend. Although technically a sort of "aromatic English" crossover, there is still enough Latakia, Turkish, and Virginia in this blend for me to think of it, perhaps perversely, as an English. Celebrated Sovereign is very rich, with a delicious balance of Latakia and Turkish, and has a wonderful slightly sweet, nutty flavor. It smokes very well and doesn't bite. For a long time, this blend was the principal way one could taste Syrian Latakia. Now that Craig Tarler at Cornell and Diehl has introduced a new line of Syrians, there may be less call for this fine tobacco. I'll always smoke it, though, from time to time, as it is beautifully made and there is nothing else quite like it. Recommended, if for nothing else as a change-of-pace English.

Mark Webber was kind enough to send me a couple of cans of Ashton Celebrated Sovereign and I smoked a couple of bowls. Here: my take

Appearance: 50g tin, parchment style paper with black design augmented with gold leaf. Very nice packaging. Tin Aroma is that of Latakia, Virginia, and a small amount of Black Cavandish. Seems to be a cross between Frog Morton and Dunhill 965, aroma wise, closer to the Frog in appearance. Packs well, a little more evidence of P.G. than I'm used to in an English tobacco (frog, the exception). Test Drive: Fire hits weed releasing a cross over fragrance and taste similar to, but more "English" than the frog. It has more complexity to my mind than it's McClelland rival. The Latakia is either more pronounced, or less hidden than Frog. The room note is fairly pleasant, for a Latakia blend, the overall body of the smoke is thicker and a "tad" more bitey than most. Overall: 7 out of 10 Bear Claws I would recommend this smoke to anyone who likes McClelland's Frog Morton, but was looking for a cross over that put less emphasis on the Cavandish Flavoring. In my mind the bench mark for cross over is Frog Morton on the Town, and it remains.

My first "good" tobacco. I had previously only smoked drug-store tobaccos or Tinder Box (Lane) blends, so this was something of an epiphany for me. I went through three tins of it in a month, smoking little else once I had opened a tin of it.

This is a dark-looking English blend that contains quite a bit of latakia: medium-brown flecks mixed with blackish brown at less than 50%. Also found in the mixture is the occasional piece of broken flake. I have never smoked the original version of this blend before McClelland began manufacturing it, so I can't compare this mixture to its former self.

The tin aroma upon first opening it was sort of moldy and sickly, but after a week or so of sitting open, it mellowed a great deal and took on an almost date-like, nutty aroma.

The blend is quite varied in color, with a good deal of dark latakia showing. There is also a significant amount of lighter turkish in addition to the red virginia (which is not all fully rubbed out. The can aroma is VERY smoky, obviously the Syrian latakia making it's presence known. For me, it needed to be a bit drier for cool, dry smoking. When lit, the flavor is complex and well balanced. The latakia is slightly dominant, (spicier than I'm used to from Cyprian), but does not overpower the other ingredients. Burns cool when puffed at a fairly slow rate, stays lit well, ands leaves a clean white fluffy ash. One of my favorites.